Wire stretcher



June 12, 1945. y. MQSLEY 2,377,957

WIRE STRETCHER Filed Oct. 50, 1944 Patented June 12, 1945 UNITED STATES P TEn ol-"slcs 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for stretching wires, and while itis especially adapted for use in stretching Wire fencing, barbed wires, etc.,

it is to be understood that it can also be used effectively in stretching wires used for other purposes where they are extended from pole to pole or support to support.

An object of theinvention is to provide a simple but very efiicient tool which affords considerable leverage during the stretching operation, and which has combined with it a means by which the stretched wire can be held taut after the tool has been released by the user and until the Wire has been suitably fastened in place.

A further object is to provide a tool of this character which is simple in construction and can be manufactured at low cost, the tool being also easily applied and used and convenient to transport from place to place.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain details of construction and-combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it

being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the tool shown in engagement with a wire and a post, the wire being held taut after it has been stretched.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I designates a handle of any desired length, and this can be made of wood having requisite strength. In the structure illustrated one end of the handle is provided with opposed flat sides 2, and these sides are engaged by plates 3 and 4 respectively, held to the handle by bolts 5 extended through the plates and handle. Plate 3 has a stiff arm 6 extended beyond the end of the handle at an obtuse angle to the plate 3, and to the outer end of this arm is secured one end of a chain 1 or other strong flexible connection, the other end of which is joined to one corner portion of a wire engaging element which can be in the form of a plate 8, and extended from this plate, in the structure illustrated, at a point remote from the chain, is a, lip 9 lapping and ina recess or slot Ill proportioned to receive a portion of the wire W to be stretched.

A jaw in the form of a, metal strip II is extended transversely of the plate and held thereto by a clamping bolt I2, so that, by tightening the bolt, a wire that is to be stretched can be gripped tightly between the plates H and 8, as

projecting beyond the end of the handle and positioned at an obtuse angle to the plate 4. This clined relative to the plate and provided with arm l3 can be shorter than the arm 6 and is merely designed to cooperate with the arm 6 for the purpose of forming a. seat for receiving a post P to which the wire W is to be attached.

From the back end of the plate 4 is extended another arm I4, to which ispivotally connected a hook I5. An anchoring chain it is joined to the plate 8 at a point adjacent to the chain 1, and the hook is adapted to engage this chain to hold the tool to the post after it has been released following the stretching of a wire.

It is felt that the operation of the device will be obvious. When a wire is to be stretched the hook I5 is disengaged from the chain or other connection l6, and the tool is positioned on the post with the arm 6 extending in the. same general direction as the wire W. The wire is gripped between the plates 8 and H after it has been seated in the recess or slot l0, and thereafter the handle I is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 with the post P as a fulcrum. This will result in the stiff arm 6 acting as an arm of a lever, which will-pull through the chain 1 upon the plate 8, thereby drawing the wire taut in the direction of the post P. Following this operation the chain I6 is pulled taut and placed in engagement with hook l6. The handle I can then be released, after which the wire W can be attached to the post by any suitable means.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire stretcher, including a handle, diverging arms extended from one end thereof and cooperating to provide a post-receiving seat, wire gripping means, a flexible connection between said means and one arm, an anchoring element extended from said means, and means connected to the handle for detachably engaging said element.

2. A wire stretcher, including a handle, diverging arms extended from one end thereof and cooperating to provide a post-receiving seat, wire gripping means, a flexible connection between said means and one arm, an anchoring element extended from said means, and means connected to the handle for detachably engaging said element, said means being located at one side of the handle and the arm of the flexible connection being located at the opposite side of the handle.

3. A wire stretcher, including a handle, diverging arms extended from one end thereof and cooperating to provide a post-receiving seat, wire gripping means, a flexible connection between said means and one arm, an anchoring element 10 extended from said means, and a hook connected to the handle for detachably engaging said element, said seat being positioned between the flexible connection and the anchoring element.

4. A wire stretcher including a wire straddling and gripping element, a handle, diverging arms secured to one end of the handle at opposite sides thereof, a hook connected to one side of the handle, a flexible connection between said element and one arm, and an adjustable and detachable connection between said element and the hook, said arms cooperating to provide a post receiving seat between the connections.

ELZIE V. MOSLE'Y. 

